Worlds Copenhagen 2011

[Bike Boy]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/copenhagen-worlds-course-under-threat

OMG. I hate politics. how often is Copenhagen hosting the world championships? or hosting anything significant for that matter? common....

 

[boardhanger]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/copenhagen-worlds-course-under-threat

OMG. I hate politics. how often is Copenhagen hosting the world championships? or hosting anything significant for that matter? common....

Copen-where????? They should be thankfull that cycling will show up!!

 

[Bike Boy]

Copen-where????? They should be thankfull that cycling will show up!!

Easy there.. don't offend us danish like that!

But yes they don't realize this is a golden opportunity

 

[sublimit]

+1 million

The Worlds should always be a long and difficult race of attrition. As world champion we do not need some loudmouthed sad sack who got hauled to the line by his teammates and then sprinted for a couple of hundred meters. Formula 1 has already gone down the road of letting medicore (at best) drivers like Button be WDC, we don't need to go down the same road.

We have a current world champion that sat on the whole time so thats a bit harsh on Cav. respected riders like Freire have sat on also and got the big prize. Anyway you cant win M-S-R without being a class rider. Cav will be a worthy winner at Copenhagen if he gets the job done.

Its got to be a race, not an ultra long test of endurance because that means riders like Cadel Evans or Flecha etc win every time although I do admire both riders.

 

[Bike Boy]

We have a current world champion that sat on the whole time so thats a bit harsh on Cav. respected riders like Freire have sat on also and got the big prize. Anyway you cant win M-S-R without being a class rider. Cav will be a worthy winner at Copenhagen if he gets the job done.

Its got to be a race, not an ultra long test of endurance because that means riders like Cadel Evans or Flecha etc win every time although I do admire both riders.

Are you suggesting that Thor ain't a class rider?

 

[sublimit]

Are you suggesting that Thor ain't a class rider?

make of it what you will. I'm not here to explain myself.

 

[Bike Boy]

make of it what you will.

Thanks for all the freedom.

you do realize that he is up there in PR?

 

[El Pistolero]

Thanks for all the freedom.

you do realize that he is up there in PR?

Up there sucking Boonen's wheel =D

 

[Bike Boy]

Up there sucking Boonen's wheel =D

Can't believe I find my self defending a norwegian rider. Under these circumstances I see no other option than to surrender.

 

[BroDeal]

Its got to be a race, not an ultra long test of endurance because that means riders like Cadel Evans or Flecha etc win every time

So what if riders like that win every time? Those are the riders who deserve to be world champion.

 

[maltiv]

We have a current world champion that sat on the whole time so thats a bit harsh on Cav.

Not that it matters, but Thor actually did a lot of work at the front of the peloton after the last hill. It wasn't covered on television though, as only the front group was filmed.

 

[Ney the Viking]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/copenhagen-worlds-course-under-threat

OMG. I hate politics. how often is Copenhagen hosting the world championships? or hosting anything significant for that matter? common....

*sigh* So typical Danish. But also really dumb of DCU, one should think that they got permission to close roads BEFORE confirming the course, silly Worre and his croonies. Anyway the roads in inner Copenhagen sucks, much better to take it all up north where there at least is some small hints of hills

 

[sublimit]

So what if riders like that win every time? Those are the riders who deserve to be world champion.

I'm Happy to see Evans, Flecha win races, Though Flecha doesnt win much to be fair.
I dont see why Cav should be singled out because theres so many riders like that but without the explosive sprint.
Anyway Hushovd is a very strong rider and a winner to put the record straight on that.

 

[Bike Boy]

I'm Happy to see Evans, Flecha win races, Though Flecha doesnt win much to be fair.
I dont see why Cav should be singled out because theres so many riders like but without the explosive sprint.
Anyway Hushovd is a very strong rider and a winner to put the record straight on that.

Oh so you are sensible after all

 

[sublimit]

Oh so you are sensible after all

This is it.. so many ways to win a bike race and its about winning. whether you have the stamina of an Evans or the flat out speed of a Cavendish.

anyway you dont the want the Worlds to turn into cyclocross where you know the podium from the word go, you want tactics ,strategy, aggression and it has to be a race.

 

[Bike Boy]

This is it.. so many ways to win a bike race and its about winning. whether you have the stamina of an Evans or the flat out speed of a Cavendish.

anyway you dont the want the Worlds to turn into cyclocross where you know the podium from the word go, you want tactics ,strategy, aggression and it has to be a race.

Turns out I found A voice I agree with...

 

[Four Winds]

Since when did the sport get dumbed down enough so that everyone (including one trick pony like Cav) should be able to win the world championship?

Cannot handle a long race of attrition? No problem. You too can be world champ. I cannot wait to get my shot. Of course the route will have to be shortened, and there will have to be speed limit for most of the race; but, hey, why shouldn't a plodder like me be able to win the rainbow stripes. We need more fairness.

At least since Zolder in 2002

 

[DAOTEC]

City Council okays final route through city

Several politicians had tried to block the time trials, which are to take place on a course through the city centre, starting and ending at the city hall square. The politicians had claimed that ...

December 18, 23:58: http://cyclingnews.com/copenhagen-worlds-ITT

 

[DAOTEC]

In 'BIG' trouble.


UCI leaders apparently are alarmed because in 9 months of the event it seems that there are no sponsors

[http://tuttobiciweb.it]

 

[meandmygitane]

I think I will double post (from Thor-thread) a comparison between Geelong and Copenhagen finishes because I think it will be an interesting talking point:



"No, my argument was that a 5% climb leading up to a sprint and a sprint with 5% grade is two different things.

Consider the 2010 UCI world's profile as seen on Podium Café

So the gradient from 15.1km to 15.8km is roughly 20m/700m = 2.86%

For 2011 Worlds from official site:

Roughly about 20-25m in a bit less than 500m so close to 5%.

So my points are
1) Hushovd didn't win 2010 worlds because he is a excellent sprinter if the gradient is 5%. He won because 1a) Better sprinters were out of contention because of the 800 meter, 12% hill on the course 1b) Because he was a better sprinter than the remaining riders on a very easy (2.9%, 700m) uphill sprint.

2) Where and when did Hushovd win a uphill sprint in 5% (let's say 4-6% gradient)? Has he ever done so? Can you provide some proof of this? What arguments are there that the Copenhagen course will shed the better sprinters in the same way that the Geelong-climb did?

I feel a lot of classic's riders can win in Copenhagen - Freire, Cancellara, Gilbert as well as the sprinters. Hushovd is there but I would say there are hotter candidates."

 

[The Hitch]

I think I will double post (from Thor-thread) a comparison between Geelong and Copenhagen finishes because I think it will be an interesting talking point:



"No, my argument was that a 5% climb leading up to a sprint and a sprint with 5% grade is two different things.

Consider the 2010 UCI world's profile as seen on Podium Café

So the gradient from 15.1km to 15.8km is roughly 20m/700m = 2.86%

For 2011 Worlds from official site:

Roughly about 20-25m in a bit less than 500m so close to 5%.

So my points are
1) Hushovd didn't win 2010 worlds because he is a excellent sprinter if the gradient is 5%. He won because 1a) Better sprinters were out of contention because of the 800 meter, 12% hill on the course 1b) Because he was a better sprinter than the remaining riders on a very easy (2.9%, 700m) uphill sprint.

2) Where and when did Hushovd win a uphill sprint in 5% (let's say 4-6% gradient)? Has he ever done so? Can you provide some proof of this? What arguments are there that the Copenhagen course will shed the better sprinters in the same way that the Geelong-climb did?

I feel a lot of classic's riders can win in Copenhagen - Freire, Cancellara, Gilbert as well as the sprinters. Hushovd is there but I would say there are hotter candidates."

THat looks tougher than i thought it was. How much flat is there after the climb? Does Cav have a chance?

Looks to me like Gilbert could win this. Unlike last year favourite tag might be justified. Dont see Canc doing it. Breschel maybe seeing as its his home. Italy and Spain have the best teams. Would freire soft pedal in rainbows a year if he won? Italies best hopes Pettachi, Pozzato and Visconti.

If there is a 400m flat before the finish then Goss might be favourite though worlds final theyll be pushing it hard up the 5%

Another worlds that could suit Valverde though they rarely dont suit him and the 2 he is missing havent been the best for hum.

 

[c&cfan]

THat looks tougher than i thought it was. How much flat is there after the climb? Does Cav have a chance?

Looks to me like Gilbert could win this. Unlike last year favourite tag might be justified. Dont see Canc doing it. Breschel maybe seeing as its his home. Italy and Spain have the best teams. Would freire soft pedal in rainbows a year if he won? Italies best hopes Pettachi, Pozzato and Visconti.

If there is a 400m flat before the finish then Goss might be favourite though worlds final theyll be pushing it hard up the 5%

Another worlds that could suit Valverde though they rarely dont suit him and the 2 he is missing havent been the best for hum.

i can't even imagine that this prodigy, pointed as favorite to win the worlds almost always since his 23 years, with all those results, will end his career without being world champion.

 

[meandmygitane]

THat looks tougher than i thought it was. How much flat is there after the climb? Does Cav have a chance?

Looks to me like Gilbert could win this. Unlike last year favourite tag might be justified. Dont see Canc doing it. Breschel maybe seeing as its his home. Italy and Spain have the best teams. Would freire soft pedal in rainbows a year if he won? Italies best hopes Pettachi, Pozzato and Visconti.

If there is a 400m flat before the finish then Goss might be favourite though worlds final theyll be pushing it hard up the 5%

Another worlds that could suit Valverde though they rarely dont suit him and the 2 he is missing havent been the best for hum.

There should be very little flat at the top of the climb, probably less than 50 meters.

Consider stage 19 of Vuelta a Espana.
Podium:
1. Gilbert
2. Farrar
3. Pozzato

Video of final climb (last 800meter) here
From official site: http://www.lavuelta.com/10/es/recorrido/index.html?e=19
(NB! Last 3km-picture is referring to stage 17, named 17uk.jpg, I fished up the right one)

Considering only the climb:
44m over 540m is 8.1%
Considering the last 875m from bottom of climb (video shows that it seems to be a slight uphill all the way to the finish):
44m over 875m: 5.0%

Conclusion: both sprinters and punchy climbers could do well in Copenhagen as indicated by the podium in the Vuelta-stage. Of course the a Vuelta stage leaves no guarantees for a World Championship

 

[Ferminal]

lol, I never knew there was that uphill at the end.

Once again it seems we have been conned into thinking it's a "lock" for all the big sprinters, when it seems more open to anyone.

 

[The Hitch]

lol, I never knew there was that uphill at the end.

Once again it seems we have been conned into thinking it's a "lock" for all the big sprinters, when it seems more open to anyone.

Me too. I felt Cav had this. Unfortunately seems we wont have the same luck for the ORR seeing who the top rider of the country that gets to design that is.